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Dental Emergencies Specialist

Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics -  - Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry

Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics

Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry located in Falls Church City, Falls Church, VA

Knowing what to do in a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving your child’s tooth and losing it. Whether your child has an infection, a bitten cheek, or knocked-out tooth, Nathalie Phaeton, DDS, and Ki Youn Kil, DDS, can help prepare you in the event of a dental emergency at Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics in Falls Church, Virginia. For more information on dental emergencies, call the office or schedule an appointment online.

Dental Emergencies Q & A

What are dental emergencies?

A dental emergency is any unexpected injury, accident, or infection that requires immediate treatment. While Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics offers appointments before and after school for busy families, they understand that a dental emergency doesn’t always happen during business hours, so call the office right away if you think your child needs immediate attention.

What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?

Call Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics as soon as possible if your child has a dental emergency. However, there are many ways to preserve your child’s teeth and help them feel more comfortable in the meantime for common dental emergencies, such as:

Knocked-out baby teeth

In most cases of knocked out baby teeth, no additional treatment is necessary, as attempting to replant the tooth can cause damage to your child’s developing permanent tooth.

Knocked-out permanent teeth

If possible, find the tooth and gently rinse it in clean water. It’s important to be as careful as possible with a knocked-out permanent tooth. Make sure you handle it by the crown, not the root, and try to reinsert the tooth. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, put it in a cup of milk or saliva (not water!), and bring it to your appointment.

Tongue, lips, or cheek injury

To reduce swelling and pain, hold an ice pack to the injured area. If they’re bleeding, apply firm pressure to the injury with a piece of cloth or gauze to staunch the blood. Don’t hesitate to go to the emergency room if the bleeding doesn’t stop with pressure.

Chipped or fractured permanent tooth

Call Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics immediately for emergency treatment if your child has damaged a permanent tooth. Try to find the piece of the broken tooth, if possible, and rinse your child’s mouth out with water. Apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain until your child’s dentist has a chance to assess the injury.

Tooth pain

If your child has a sudden toothache, try dislodging any food or debris from their teeth with floss to see if that relieves the pain. If the pain doesn’t go away, call Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics and apply an ice pack while you wait for an appointment.

A possible broken jaw and head injuries

A sudden blow to the jaw and serious head injuries warrant an immediate trip to the emergency room.

How do I know if my child has a dental emergency?

If you suspect that your child has a dental emergency, watch out for the following signs.

  • Severe tooth pain
  • Facial swelling
  • Permanent tooth loss
  • Blood that doesn’t stop
  • Significant tooth damage
  • Extreme jaw pain

Time is crucial when treating dental emergencies. Call Oasis Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics, or book an appointment online if you have any questions.